Leader: A/Prof Denise Cuthbert

Offered

Sunway First semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces key feminist debates in the theory and practice of cross-cultural research and grounds those debates in the literature of globalization and gender and development. Issues examined include the power relations underlying and determining the research process; cultural biases inherent in the production of knowledge; ethical issues in cross-cultural research; negotiating racial, ethnic and cultural differences in research. Discussion will also cover the challenges posed to white Western feminism primarily by women of colour, Third World and indigenous women, and women from other non-Western groups.

Objectives

Students successfully completing this unit will have:

1. acquired a grounded, working knowledge of the major feminist debates and methodological literature in the field of cross-cultural research;

2. an understanding of the gendered dimensions of debates concerning globalisation and development;

3. a capacity for informed, theoretical critique of feminist research methodologies and other qualitative research methodologies;

4. skills in the presentation of verbal and written analyses and arguments on issues pertaining to cross-cultural feminist research;

5. familiarity with a range of research methodologies appropriate to feminist cross-cultural research.

Assessment

Short exercise(2700 words): 30%
Seminar presentation (equiv 1800 words): 20%
Research paper (4500 words): 50%

Students at level 4 and level 5 will be given different short exercises. Students at level 5 will be expected to demonstrate greater capacity for independent research and will be required to develop a research paper of a more conceptually challenging nature.

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prohibitions

GND4030, WSM5700